Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) on Thursday formally launched his bid to fill the Senate seat left open by incoming Secretary of State John Kerry in the Massachusetts special election, The Republican of Springfield, Mass. reported.
A moderate Democrat, Lynch will vye for the party’s nomination against the more liberal Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA). Markey has the backing of the state and national party establishment, and a poll released Wednesday indicated that would-be Democratic primary voters in the Bay State overwhelmingly prefer him over Lynch. But Lynch said at his campaign’s kick-off event that he believes his centrism will bode well for his prospects.
“You have a polarized system; being a moderate Democrat and a common-sense Democrat, I think that can help,” Lynch said.
Former Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) is widely expected to announce his intention to run as the Republican nominee next week.
